Chapter 277 - 163: Rescue
The Xiong Family Cavalry advanced quickly through the encampment with the Druids. Along the way, they encountered many soldiers of the Northern Expedition Legion putting out fires.
These Northern Expedition Legion soldiers also saw the Xiong Family Cavalry, but they barely reacted.
For one, the Xiong Family Cavalry were also part of the Northern Expedition Legion, and their uniforms were all in the Legion’s style.
For another, the need for a password to enter or leave the encampment was known only to the parasitized members within Mei Yuan’s inner circle and the sentries at the camp’s perimeter. Regular soldiers were always led by parasitized soldiers or heroes during operations, so they were completely unaware.
Naturally, they were also unaware that the troops who had left early yesterday morning had lost Mei Yuan’s trust and could no longer freely enter or leave the encampment.
The cavalry advanced unopposed, quickly approaching the main camp of the Northern Expedition Legion.
They stopped in a relatively open area outside the main camp.
Yuan Xiaobo and the others flew from the cavalrymen’s shoulders to the ground, changing back into their human forms.
After returning to his human form, Yuan Xiaobo said to Xiong Da, "Lord Xiong, you can go handle your business now. Just remember not to get too close to the main camp. Don’t blame us if you get caught in the crossfire."
Nearby, some heroes of the Demon Race had already begun to cast their spells. Plants rapidly sprouted from the ground, which had been cleared flat by the Northern Expedition Legion.
With a continuous sound of earth breaking, countless vines intertwined, weaving a forest of vines that enveloped the Druid Corps.
Once the vine barrier was complete, all the Druids began to inscribe Magic Arrays on the ground: a Combined Spell Formation, a spell-range-boosting array, a spell-power-boosting array, and a long-distance targeting array... they were starting preparations for the attack to come.
The Xiong Family Cavalry, now shut out by the vines, stared at the seamless barrier. They didn’t understand what was happening, but they knew it was impressive.
"Boss, do we wait here, or what do we do?"
"Let’s move. We’ll check on the main camp. I told someone I was coming to get them."
With that, Xiong Da spurred his horse with his legs and galloped in the direction of the main camp.
He hadn’t gone far before the sound of fighting drifted over from the distance.
Xiong Da immediately led his cavalry toward the sound.
...
Behind the main camp of the Northern Expedition Legion, a fierce fight was underway.
On one side were the fleeing Zhao Tang and his group; on the other were more than a dozen Excellent-grade parasitized heroes with their troops.
"My lords, how could you possibly run away?"
"Our brothers are still risking their lives on the front lines. How could you just run away like this?"
One of the heroes besieging Zhao Tang and the others tried to persuade the lords to return to camp with him. If one were to ignore his ferocious attacks and only listen to his words, it sounded like a loyal subordinate pleading with his master, "My lord, why have you turned to the enemy?"
"You sons of bitches! Don’t think for a second I don’t know! You’ve all been parasitized and controlled by the Eye Demons!" Wei Gang roared from within the group.
"Why are you still listening to them?" Wei Gang shouted to the surrounding soldiers, hoping they would help hold back these heroes who’d been parasitized by the Eye Demons.
"Well, well. Since you already know, why bother resisting?"
"We couldn’t very well bring ordinary soldiers along to chase you, now could we?"
The parasitized hero who was speaking even chuckled a few times.
"The Eye Demon Race is actually quite friendly toward lords. We don’t take complete control. It’s a symbiosis—we won’t extinguish your consciousness."
"Bah! That’s just so you can preserve our authority as lords!"
"No need to make it sound so unpleasant. Whatever the case, you still have your own consciousness, don’t you?"
"Be good. Stop being naughty. Come back with us and you can keep your lives and your dignity. Otherwise, don’t blame us for using force."
As they spoke, the parasitized heroes intensified their attacks. They quickly struck down all the heroes the lords had brought with them, then closed in on the lords themselves with savage expressions, preparing to capture them alive.
"Don’t come any closer—" Shi Min shrieked in terror from the crowd. "If you come any closer, I’ll kill myself! You won’t get a thing!"
"Hahaha, then go on, kill yourselves!"
The surrounding heroes laughed, but they did stop their advance, waiting to watch the lords commit suicide.
The lords fell silent. If they could live, who would want to die?
Even if dying this time meant returning to Cuiwei Star, it was still death. Who would be willing to experience such a thing?
"Hurry up, do it! If you won’t kill yourselves, then we’ll make our move."
"Get on with it!"
...
The surrounding heroes waited a moment, but when they saw no movement from the lords, they began to shout impatiently.
As low-ranking, expendable members of the Eye Demon Race, this was the first time they had ever seen lords in such a sorry state. It was a rare sight!
"CLIP-CLOP—"
Suddenly, the sound of horse hooves came from behind.
Everyone turned toward the sound. A flicker of hope appeared on the faces of the lords. Xiong Da had already joined their private group chat and had just sent a message saying he had entered the encampment. Now, their only hope was that the person arriving was Xiong Da.
The parasitized heroes around them noticed the lords’ expressions. They exchanged smiles and began to jeer.
"The entire camp is under our control now. What are you expecting?"
"They look so ridiculous."
"How pitiful!"
"Don’t tell me they still think someone can save them?"
"Don’t be afraid. In a little while, you’ll be just like us."
"Sigh... Does that mean they’ll get to order us around again then?"